Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||||
| 13494 | 11/01/1999 | 610906 | Some vehicles with the 2.0l spi engine may exhibit a lack of heat and temperature gauge reading cold. *tt | 05/18/2000 | |
| 996877 | 08/01/1999 | 608808 | Some vehicles equipped with 2.0l spi engine may exhbit a lack of heat and temperature gauge reading cold. *tt | 12/06/1999 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 13107 | 08/01/1999 | 6091913 | Concerns with lack of heat / thermostat contamination. *tt | 11/16/2000 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 031515 | 08/04/2003 | 022112 | 10003194 | Idle vibration on vehicles equipped with 2.0l spi or zetec engine only. *tt | 10/10/2003 |
| 9874 | 04/13/1998 | 601343 | A new silicone gasket and sealant. *yc | 07/24/1998 | |
| 97610 | 03/17/1997 | 51990 | Blower motor- chirping or squeaking from blower motor at low speeds. *jd | 07/17/1997 | |
| 97612 | 03/17/1997 | 51994 | Noise- buzzing noise heard from instrument panel area for 3 seconds after ignition switch is turned off and/or at engine idle speed on deceleration while driving- vehicles with 2.0l engine. *jd | 07/17/1997 | |
| BC9666961001 | 10/01/1996 | 50527 | 2.5l duratec engine exchanges no longer include front end accessory drive component, oil level indicator, water pump belt/tensioner, egr tube, linkshaft bracket or exhaust manifolds. *tt | 05/27/1997 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - DIESEL | |||||
| BC3431972301 | 01/23/1997 | 51464 | The engine block heater kit instruction sheet #7000 has a misprint on installation instruction #8. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| BC1020297230 | 01/23/1997 | 51562 | Engine block heater kit (#f7cz-6d008-aa) instruction sheet #7000 has a misprint on installation instruction #8. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||||
| 01246 | 12/10/2001 | 630515 | Engine oil system priming procedures, service tips for reports of premature engine failure. *tt | 04/18/2002 | |
| 0214 | 01/21/2002 | 630001 | Some engine assemblies with aluminum cylinder heads repaired in-vehile have been found to leak coolant and/or oil from the cylinder head gasket area. *tt | 04/11/2002 | |
| 01205 | 10/15/2001 | 627927 | Some vehicles may exhibit vacuum or air leaks in the intake manifold and / or engine system causing diagnostic trouble codes p0171 and or p0174. *tt | 02/26/2002 | |
| 11769 | 08/01/1998 | 615270 | Some vehicles may exhibit brief spark knock on acceleration during hot weather once the engine has thoroughly warmed up. *tt | 01/10/2001 | |
| 9811473 | 04/01/1998 | 613383 | Some vehicles may exhibit a custome concern of steady or intermittent miss with diagnostic trouble codes p0300 and p0304. *tt | 07/10/2000 | |
| 12174 | 11/01/1998 | 613224 | Some vehicles may exhibit a hard start/long crank, cold start stall, cold rough idle concern. *mjs | 06/19/2000 | |
| 0059 | 03/06/2000 | 612956 | Subject concerning the idle-vibration- 2.0l and zetec engines- service tip. *mjs | 06/14/2000 | |
| 99816 | 05/03/1999 | 606420 | Ford motor company now recommends sae 5w-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year. *tt | 08/19/1999 | |
| 982017 | 10/12/1998 | 603702 | Experiencing squeaking and / or rattling noises may occur during different driving characteristics and from varying points on the vehicle. *yc | 03/02/1999 | |
| 980316 | 04/01/1998 | 603509 | Condition regarding the engine misfire code ( dtc p0304 ). *yc | 02/23/1999 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||||
| 982010 | 10/12/1998 | 603695 | Experiencing a buzzing or rattling noise from the exhaust system. *yc | 03/02/1999 | |
| 9864 | 03/30/1998 | 601312 | Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system. *tt | 07/21/1998 | |
| BC0300970201 | 01/02/1997 | 51103 | Mil light on with dtc's p0443 and p1443. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| BC9714961101 | 11/01/1996 | 50860 | Diagnostic instructions for servicing evaporative emission purge flow system. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| BC0407961115 | 11/15/1996 | 50753 | Instructions for replacing diagnosed failed parts. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| BC0490961112 | 11/12/1996 | 50763 | Instructions for replacing diagnosed failed component. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL | |||||
| 12295 | 12/01/1998 | 615541 | Some vehicles may exhibit malfunction indicator light on, stall at tip-in from idle, engine hesitation, and / or surge caused by the mass air flow (maf) sensor. *tt | 01/18/2001 | |
| 981512 | 08/03/1998 | 609551 | A direct replacement part for the evaporative emission canister and bracket assembly. ak | 04/03/2000 | |
| 982310 | 11/23/1998 | 603724 | Mass air flow (maf)- sensor contamination- service tip. *ak | 03/03/1999 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) | |||||
| 9744 | 02/17/1997 | 51686 | Exhaust- exhaust noise from behind instrument panel or rear of engine- 2.0l vehicles built through 9/1/96. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | |||
| 11/10/2004 | 78000 | 1 | 05/13/2001 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 mercury tracer. while driving 70 mph, the vehicle lost power and the contact pulled to the side of the road. he lifted the hood and noticed flames coming from the engine. he extinguished the fire and had the vehicle towed to a junkyard. the contact later sold the vehicle to the junkyard for $100. the dealer stated that because he no longer owned the vehicle, they could not investigate the failure. the failure and current mileages were 78,000. updated 04/16/08 *bf updated 04/16/08 *tr | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||
| 01/02/2000 | |||
| Engine check light would come on monthly, and consumer had to add coolant every 3 months. took vehicle to a mechanic and they put a new radiator in. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 10/08/2007 | 91698 | 5 | 10/01/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 mercury tracer. the contact stated while driving 45 mph, she lost control of the vehicle and drove into the median to avoid oncoming traffic. the engine shut off and the cylinder head was blown. the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure; however, they stated that the engine needed to be rebuilt. . the contact stated that the cylinder head in the engine failed and caused her to lose control of the vehicle. the vehicle has not been repaired. the dealer and the warranty company stated that they were unable to honor the warranty to repair the vehicle. the warranty information is available if needed. the failure also caused damage to the front driver and passenger side tires. there were no injuries. on october 8, 2007, the contact drove to the dealer because the vehicle was leaking coolant. after three hours of inspecting the vehicle, the cause of the failure was still undetermined. the dealer advised her to bring the vehicle back in a few days. a couple of days later, while driving 45 mph, the vehicle began losing speed and the engine failed. the vehicle was towed back to the dealer and they stated that the engine failed. the vehicle has an extended warranty through another company. the vehicle was inspected by the warranty company, but they refused to pay for the repair work. the dealer refused to perform the repair. the contact believed that this was because she reported the dealer to the better business bureau. the current and failure mileages were 91,698. the fuel gauge was inoperative. the ac did not blow out cold air, the front brakes were replaced. updated 12/12/07 | |||
| 06/06/2003 | 1 | ||
| My girlfriend owns a 1997 mercury tracer. at the time of the incident the car had been driven for approximately 110,000 miles. here engine light came on and we had a diagnostic analysis conducted on the car. the analysis said there was a misfire in the 4th cylinder and before we could change the spark plugs the car was no longer driveable. it turns out that mercury makes a piece of junk car and that the valve seats were manufactured with a powdered metal. it appears that the valve seat cracked and dropped into the cylinder resulting in the piston hammering down into that cylinder and destroying the engine. this car was only six years old and was kept in excellent condition but thanks to the incompetent craftmanship of the people at mercury my girlfriend was extremely inconvenienced (temporally and most of all financially) due to the cheapness of the engine. it is safe to say that we will never purchase another car manufactured by the ford company. foreign all the way. thank you. salmaan toor | |||
| 05/16/2003 | 1 | ||
| While driving the engine light illuminated and there was a sudden clunky noise. it was later determined that the engine burned out. *nlm | |||
| 07/01/2002 | |||
| I began having engine trouble last july. whjen i turned the ingnition the engine began to buckle and make a loud noise. i would have to attempt starting it a few times to get a clean start. then the engine would make a tapping noise and the engine light would come on. i took it to the dealer - they said it was a dirty cylinder and that it needed to be cleaned. they cleaned it but a few months later the same string of events occurred -- but the engine light went off before i could get it to the dealer. the dealer took the car anyway -- they kept it for almost 3 weeks and the car would not act up for them. they re-sealed some wires and gave it back to me because they couldn't find anything wrong with the engine. well, needless to say the car kept having trouble starting and the engine light kept coming on and and going off by itself. i became fed up -- so i took it to precision tune instead of the dealer. they told me the wires that were sealed actually needed to be replaced and that's what the problem was. i paid them $318 to do it. i picked up my car -- and drove to work -- and what do you know -- the engine light came back on again and i had trouble starting it. i took it back to the shop -- i turned the car off and turned it back on for the mechanic and the car made a hidious sound and died right there in front of us. apparently one of the cylinders stopped working and something was loose in the engine is what i was told. now i have another car -- it wasn't worth fixing. i also had a coolant issue with the car -- i had to replace the radiator. that wasn't fun either. | |||
| Crankshaft/pulley fell apart, causing the belt to separate from the vehicle, and damage to the timing chain. dealer has repaired the vehicle at the owner's expense.*ak | |||
| 01/18/2000 | 11/01/1997 | ||
| I own a 1997 mecury tracer, that has been in ford, lincoln, mercury authorized dealership for almost 3 weeks in the service department. the first time i brought my vehicle in was when my engine check light came on. this was on 1/18/2000, the service department informed that my #3 was misfiring and that they need to repplace my sparkplugs and give the car a tune-up. on 1/27/200, my engine check light light came back on. i took it back to the dealship and they found an oil leak and told me the computer read out was the same as before #3 was misfiring. well that night after i got the car back, the service engine soon light came back on. so the next day i called tthe dealership oce again and i brought the car back to them and they said that it was the same code and that they would check into it. they gave me my car back and informed me that yes the engine check light would probably come back on again and that to inform them if the car started to run rough. well the next week, i informed the dealership that the car was actually starting to stall when i was driving it and they made me an appointment for the following tuesday 2/7/2000 to bring the car in. well, the car has been there ever since. first i was told that it was the valve guide that needed to be replaced and that my extented warranty company would pay a portion of the cost including only seven days on a rental car. then on 2/22/2000 i was informed by the dealership that ford no longer makes the valve guides for the 1997 mercury tracers and it is no longer available on the secondary market. i have already paid out $340.00 to have the car fixed, which has not been fixed, plus no what ever the costs are going to be now. plus i have to pay for the rental car, because the extended warranty company will only pay for 7 days. i am extremely frustrated and think that for a 3 year old car to have this type of problem is definitely a manufactures problem, but when talking with for | |||
| 07/23/1999 | 1 | 11/01/1997 | |
| The crankshaft pulley separated ruining the belt and the pulley, requiring that both be replaced. i did not think that i should have these type of problems with a car that only had 40,600 miles on it. i feel like i should be compensated by the manufacturer or the dealer who worked on the car. i am reluctant to believe that i will not have further problems with this car or the same problem again. i would like to know exactly why and how this happened, other than being told that i am not the first one it has happened to. i feel like this could have been a lot worse than it was, only because i noticed it when i did and took it to be repaired did i not have more extensive damage than i did. but, i still don't think i should have had this type of problem to begin with. the car should have been fixed for free. i do not know whether or not i will keep the car after having had this type of problem with it. | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 03/01/1998 | ||
| When started cold the lifters tap for a while, until it warms up. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1998 | 6 | 05/20/1997 | |
| Engine taps and cuts off while driving. engine check light comes on. dealer contacted and is aware of the problem. stated the problem caused by cracked crankshaft. after engine replaced, problem continued and dealer said the transmission needed to be replaced. *ak *ml | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 03/24/2002 | 1 | ||
| Consumer states that then vehicle caughton fire under the hood. the vehicle was totalled. the dealer has been notified. please provide additional information. nlm | |||
| 07/20/2001 | 1 | 10/01/1998 | |
| Engine blew up in rush hour traffic - huge safety concerns for other tracer drivers, no light indicator, no gauge warning, etc.- car has been maintained, just blew up- nothing to indicate reason. should consider recalling tracers for investigation of engine. | |||
| 10/01/1998 | |||
| Engine failed in rush hour traffic on freeway with family in car- no light, no gauge indicator, no history of problems with the car- huge safety hazard, absolutely did not know it would happen. ford is, thus far, unresponsive.*ak | |||
| 07/20/2001 | 1 | 10/01/1997 | |
| While traveling on the freeway, the car engine blew up (at maximum freeway speed) and after making it to the side of the road, discovered that the engine was completely blown. there was no warning, no light, no nothing- stranded the family in mid traffic during rush hour at an extremely dangerous section of freeway- car is 3 years old and should have warned us with lights or something- we need it repaired. very potential dangerous situation, hopefully it won't happen to anyone else. ford needs to look into this pronto. our warranty has expired but this should be taken care of as a safety issue.*ak | |||
| 07/01/2001 | 1 | 02/01/2001 | |
| Why is this database being eliminated, first of all?! i love this. check coolant light came on, coolant had all leaked while driving, due to frost plug heater seal failure on engine causing all coolant to leak out. not covered under warranty?! seems that this is an engine seal to me, ford disagrees. | |||
| 01/18/2000 | 11/01/1997 | ||
| I own a 1997 mecury tracer, that has been in ford, lincoln, mercury authorized dealership for almost 3 weeks in the service department. the first time i brought my vehicle in was when my engine check light came on. this was on 1/18/2000, the service department informed that my #3 was misfiring and that they need to repplace my sparkplugs and give the car a tune-up. on 1/27/200, my engine check light light came back on. i took it back to the dealship and they found an oil leak and told me the computer read out was the same as before #3 was misfiring. well that night after i got the car back, the service engine soon light came back on. so the next day i called tthe dealership oce again and i brought the car back to them and they said that it was the same code and that they would check into it. they gave me my car back and informed me that yes the engine check light would probably come back on again and that to inform them if the car started to run rough. well the next week, i informed the dealership that the car was actually starting to stall when i was driving it and they made me an appointment for the following tuesday 2/7/2000 to bring the car in. well, the car has been there ever since. first i was told that it was the valve guide that needed to be replaced and that my extented warranty company would pay a portion of the cost including only seven days on a rental car. then on 2/22/2000 i was informed by the dealership that ford no longer makes the valve guides for the 1997 mercury tracers and it is no longer available on the secondary market. i have already paid out $340.00 to have the car fixed, which has not been fixed, plus no what ever the costs are going to be now. plus i have to pay for the rental car, because the extended warranty company will only pay for 7 days. i am extremely frustrated and think that for a 3 year old car to have this type of problem is definitely a manufactures problem, but when talking with for | |||
| 07/19/1999 | |||
| Engine is stalling when turning a corner, stopping at a red light. *ak | |||
| 07/30/1998 | 6 | 10/01/1997 | |
| Steering, shimmering like the front end was out of line, service engine soon light came on and went off 2 times third time went to dixie and set up to have it check since the light stayed on this time and did not go back off. seatbelt, will not latch at times i have to keep trying to press in the release button for it to finally lock. at times would come off while driving. dixie set up an appointment 1 week after i went there to have all of the above checked.date dixie motors looked at car july 24,1998. keeped car about 7 hrs. told me they cleaned seatbelt, did not tell me what was wrong with sterring and the only thing fixed was service engine light. on july 30,1998 3 days after bringing my car in to be fix the steering grab to right coming out of curve and seatbelt came off when the car hit a pole. injuring my arm,neck and lower back. all have healed except my arm. call a ford repersentive they had the claim divions call me. i went to brumfield ford in amite since i do not trust the dixie motor. mr raff called dixie motors last week they told him i have never brought my car in to be service. i showed mr. raff the workorder paper 42094 customer#35145, he did not understand why they said i did not bring the car there. i do not know what to do anymore, i have a new car i'm afraid to drive please help. thank you janelle negrotto( dot number: ap7jjkuu tire size: p185/65r14 ) | |||
| 09/10/1998 | |||
| While the vehicle has been parked for 12 hours when it caught on fire for no apparent reason. no prior problems with the vehicle. currently at the dealer. cause unknown. please provide details. *ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | |||
| 06/01/2004 | 0 | 1 | 03/20/2003 |
| Rpm's lower and stall car-took to shop in 2004 told plug/wire misfire and vacuum leak. paid almost $200. one week later started again. car vibrates badly when brake applied, both back springs have given out, crankshaft/pulley wobbles badly, has snapped serpentine belt, replaced belt tensioner and belt, snapped again one month later, replaced belt again, but has only been two months. car sways in lane due to bad back springs. car makes vibrating noise under hood when parked at an idle. tie rod replaced two times. this car has less than 70,000 miles on it and all problems, including a blown radiator, and unexplained wear on brakes all started at about 40,000 miles. this car has been one problem after another. i also have a problem with the seatbelts locking too tightly for no reason. i would also like to add that i am the 2nd owner of this car; however, the 1st owner was an older family member that drove to and from work.*ak | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||
| 11/19/1999 | |||
| Turned key on and the exhaust pipe broke. there was a loud noise and fumes came up in the car. contacted the dealer, they said warranty ran out a week ago. vehicle was not covered. called the manufacturer, was not able to help. *ak | |||